It may surprise you, but eggplants are technically fruits because they have seeds, it means that eggplants are one of the fruits with the most use in the kitchen because you can make a great variety of dishes with them. You can use it in sauces, stews, bake them, and roast them, whatever you want. All you have to do is enjoy them at lunchtime.
So you may be considering preparing a recipe that includes eggplant, but you dont know how many it takes, and you decide to take a few and then ask yourself, how will the eggplants be stored? How long can they be kept in excellent condition? Dont worry, and we will answer all your questions about it, you keep reading.
Contents
- How to Store Eggplant
- Can You Freeze Eggplant?
- How Long Does Eggplant Last
- How to Tell If Eggplant Is Bad
- FAQs
- Can you eat expired eggplant?
- Is it okay to eat eggplant that is brown inside?
- Does eggplant go bad in the fridge?
- How long does it take for an eggplant to spoil?
- How do you tell if eggplant has gone bad?
- What does old eggplant taste like?
- Why does eggplant turn brown when cut?
- What are the black dots in eggplant?
- Can you eat eggplant that has turned yellow?
- How can you tell if an eggplant is good?
How to Store Eggplant
The key to the duration of fruits and vegetables when you store them at home depends on how good quality they are when you choose them in stores if you take eggplants that are not in very good condition, you may end up with some eggplants spoiled soon.
Like many other fruits and vegetables, eggplants need low temperatures to be able to stay in good condition for a couple of days, so the ideal thing to store them in the refrigerator, but in case you do not have one or you do not have space inside You can leave them at room temperature for a maximum of three days.
The proper temperature to optimally keep an eggplant refrigerated is 50 to 54 F. So if you have your eggplants stored at higher temperatures than these, it is most likely that they will end up going bad faster than expected.
If you plan to store them for a short time, such as from one day to the next for example, then you can store the eggplants in a place where there is good ventilation; also this place must be away from direct sunlight and ultimately also from any product with ethylene because this material accelerates the ripening process.
If you plan to store your eggplants for a period longer than four days or if you want to have them sliced and chopped, you should store them directly in the refrigerator to properly preserve and avoid any problem at the time you want to use them for cooking.
Unlike other foods, eggplants do not need or should be kept in airtight containers when you store them in the refrigerator unless the cuts or slices or you have cooked them, otherwise avoid having to seal them in any container.
Can You Freeze Eggplant?
You may be one of those people who like to buy a lot to save in the long term and consume it little by little; if that is the case, you will be familiar with the process of freezing food to extend its duration for weeks, months and even years. Luckily, eggplants are one of those foods that can be frozen and kept very well in that state.
Among the methods you can find to freeze eggplants there are two that are relatively easy to do and that allows them to be well preserved for a long time:
The first is to make a dish, put it in an airtight container and leave it in the freezer. Depending on the dish, it may or may not work.
The second way is to prepare the sliced eggplant, boil them, dry them, freeze them quickly, put them in freezer bags, remove the air and leave them permanently to freeze.
How Long Does Eggplant Last
As you should already know, neither fruits nor vegetables keep their freshness forever, so if you have eggplants that have been in your refrigerator for a while, it is most likely that they are losing their peak of quality since you put them there.
Usually, the eggplants are sold individually and do not come with labels on the outside that indicate a date on which they spoil. The buyer must pay attention to the characteristics of the eggplant. It should not be too hard, but not too soft. Those are the good eggplants and the ones you should take with you.
How long the eggplants can last in good condition may depend on how it is, if it is complete, it can last three days at room temperature and a week in the refrigerator. When you cut the eggplant into slices, you should refrigerate it to last up to four days. If you cook the eggplant, it can last up to five days depending on what dish you have made.
How to Tell If Eggplant Is Bad
When fruits and vegetables like eggplant have been in the refrigerator for a week or two, they are likely reaching the point of spoiling if they havent already. So if your eggplants have been stored for a long time, then the most common sense is to discard them.
If the eggplants have not been stored for so long, but you are not sure then what you should do is look for the signs that indicate that it is in bad condition, if you see that there are rotten parts, no matter how small they are, you should discard the eggplant.
Other signs that may indicate that the eggplant is in poor condition is that it loses its firmness and becomes softer, that its seeds darken and that you see that the skin sinks on its own, if you see any of these situations happening to your eggplant then get rid of it.
Sources:
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FAQs
Can you eat expired eggplant?
If your eggplant is showing any signs of spoilage, toss it. Not only will the eggplant taste bad, it could make you sick.
Is it okay to eat eggplant that is brown inside?
Eggplant flesh will have tan to brown colored spots around the seeds. If this is the color you are referring to, it is edible. If the flesh is more brown than white, the eggplant may be spoiling and should be discarded.
Does eggplant go bad in the fridge?
If you don’t intend to eat the eggplant within 2 days, it should be refrigerated. To refrigerate, wrap in a paper towel and place in a reusable container or perforated plastic bag in the crisper section of your refrigerator for use within 5 – 7 days.
How long does it take for an eggplant to spoil?
What You Should Know
Fresh eggplant lasts 2-3 days at room temperature, 5 days in the refrigerator, and 8-12 months in the freezer.
How do you tell if eggplant has gone bad?
When buying an eggplant, the flesh should be firm but give slightly when pressed, then bounce back. If your eggplant is soft to the touch, that’s an indication that it’s beginning to spoil. In addition, if the flesh of the eggplant is slimy, you’ll want to throw it away.
What does old eggplant taste like?
or do not exhibit a bright, glossy color.Old or overripe eggplants or those that are off color or sit out for a while after being harvested are more likely to exhibit a bitter flavor. Therefore, choose eggplants that are heavy, shiny and firm and avoid eggplants that are off-colored and
Why does eggplant turn brown when cut?
Freshly-cut eggplant, when exposed to the air, quickly oxidizes and turns black, kind of the way an apple goes brown after it is cut and exposed to air. Black eggplant can ruin the appearance of a dish. To prevent this from happening, prepare a bowl of water in advance prior to cutting eggplant.
What are the black dots in eggplant?
The black dots on eggplant are called seeds. While they may look like they would be full of flavor, they are actually quite bland. The seeds are responsible for the eggplant’s reproduction, and they are an important part of the plant’s life cycle.
Can you eat eggplant that has turned yellow?
JERRY: As eggplant mature they do tend to go yellow and this means they’ve past their best in terms of taste. One variety from India called ‘Udumalpet’ produces fruit that are naturally yellow when ripe. But don’t throw away over-ripe fruit.
How can you tell if an eggplant is good?
“Eggplant should be slightly firm but not hard,” says Leone. In other words, if you push on it with your finger and the veggie feels very soft, or you’re able to puncture the skin, it’s too far gone. A perfectly ripe eggplant will not have as much give when touched as a ripe tomato or peach.